ISLAMABAD: Hearing references against Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday asked him to submit a reply on 22nd of this month.

Regarding the same references, the commission also told PTI’s Secretary General Jahangir Tareen and Talal Chaudhry and Captain Safdar of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to submit their individual responses on the same date.

The electoral body took up the disqualification references against Khan and Tareen earlier today sent by the Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq.

Speaking to media, PTI spokesperson Naeem-ul-Haq said Sadiq’s reference against the Chairman PTI was fallacious, based on lies.

He said the PML-N group who filed the references against Khan was now finding it hard to defend their claims and so were not present today.

“The aim of all the references filed against Chairman PTI was to malign and blackmail PTI,” said Naeem-ul-Haq.

The legal adviser of the PTI who represented Khan at the commission’s secretariat in Islamabad also criticised the absence of Captain Safdar along with his lawyer and accused him of not taking the case seriously.

Since Captain Safdar was not present at the commission, Chief Election Commissioner Justice Retired Sardar Raza Muhammad Khan had to adjourn the hearing until next week.